Season of Uncertainty by Carol Harrison

As summer days shorten and the autumn season begins to show her colours and cooler temperatures, I feel my life remains in a season of uncertainty. Threats of frost and soon to be ice and snow encrusted creeks in fields of brown and leafless trees add a sense of waiting, wondering when the cold will change the way we dress, the way things look and the activities we are involved in.

Over the last few months days have often blurred together with life changes beyond my control due to my husband's health concerns. In the midst of caring for him, speaking at a week of camp and attempting to do some writing in addition to daily household obligations, I caught a bug that took up residence in my lungs. The infection caused asthma to flare up worse than it had for almost three years and I had a time of enforced rest - as much rest as the coughing and gasping for breath allowed.

I must admit asking God what his plans were in all of this health concern chaos. What was he trying to teach me? As my health improved, I tried to determine what should I be working on in this new season needing to rest and care for my husband.

Ideas flow through my mind and I grab pen and paper to jot them down before they disappear like fog burning off in the sunshine. Anxiety about the unknown plagues me. I scribble thoughts, prayers and questions into my journal begging to hear God's still small voice about the next step for writing, speaking and just daily living. What can and should I say yes to? What needs to be put on hold because the time is not yet right?

At the beginning of this season of change filled with so many unknowns, our pastor preached a series of sermons about stewardship - not just of our finances but every area of our lives including our God-given gifts. These Biblical truths still echo in my heart and mind. I add them to the questions I pour out to God about what the stewardship of my storytelling gift should look like right now.

I must admit impatience rears its head way too often. I identify more with Martha bustling around trying to accomplish many things in a short amount of time than with Mary who took time to rest and learn at the feet of Jesus. I equate being busy with productivity and worry about resting being thought of as procrastination. Some times the line blurs between rest and simply putting things off for another day. Only by God's grace will I know the difference.

God has given me the gift of teaching and storytelling but he has also given me a heart full of empathy. Yes I need to redeem the time and tell the stories of the amazing things the God of the Bible still does today. Resting and learning at the feet of Jesus will help me recognize his still small voice and learn patience yet again.

No matter what door God opens or when he opens it, I want to be prepared to obey and walk through it. For now I must take each day as it comes and have God's love, patience and compassion flow in and through me as I care for my husband where ever that journey may take us. Time at home with him allows me to keep putting those ideas to paper or typing them on to the computer and connecting with others in person when the time is right.

Seasons change each year. There are things I enjoy in each of them and some I like better than others but it takes all of them to make up the total package. In my life the seasons change along with expectations I have as well as the obligations and privileges they afford. I enjoy some of the seasons or parts of them better than others but God uses all of them to make me into the person he has planned for me to be. May I be willing to allow his good work to help me grow in faith and obedience.

As a speaker, published author and storyteller, Carol Harrison is passionate about mentoring people of all ages and abilities to help them find their voice and reach their fullest potential. She shares from her heart, telling stories from real life experiences and God’s Word to encourage people and help them find a glimmer of hope no matter what the circumstances. She believes we need to continuously grow in our walk with God and lives out her storytelling passion by speaking at women’s events and retreats, Bible Camps as well as school assemblies and church events. Carol is a wife, mother of four adult children and grandmother to twelve. She makes her home is Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.

Marching Off The Map by Bob Jones

How ironic.

That was my first thought when I read the theme for the IWO March postings. 

"Like Abraham of old, where is God calling you to chart a new territory?"

Call me Abe.

After 29 years as a pastor at North Pointe Church - formerly known as Central Tabernacle – my wife and I felt God’s prompting to conclude our ministry here.

North Pointe is family to us. When we arrived in 1990 we prayed to be a blessing to the church family. We always knew that one day our departure would be a blessing as well. That day came on February 17, 2019. 

Our goal is to finish well. We were not quitting. It’s always too soon to quit. Jocelyn and I wanted to finish well. That meant leaving the church in a position of health, strength, and poised to grow.

Ministry Staff of North Pointe - appreciation luncheon - Feb. 2019

North Pointe has seen God’s favor and has grown from 495 people in 2006 to over 3700 in 2019. We are experiencing our highest attendance in our 102-year history. More people have made decisions to become Christ-followers in the past eleven months than at any time in our history. North Pointe has a reputation as a respected, come-as-you-are church in our community and across the nation. We have a devoted, talented and young ministry staff, which will be led by our associate pastor who has been in place for 14 years. The future looks very bright.

We’ve taken this step of faith with nowhere to go. We’re confident that the next step will appear now that we’ve been responsive and obedient. God has never failed us. 

Our future is uncertain but when everything is uncertain, anything is possible.

In 330 BC, Alexander the Great had conquered the Persian Empire and become ruler of most of the known world. With the greatest army ever assembled he decided to continue his push eastward. His army had been as unstoppable as well as his ambition: He wanted to rule the entire world. But when the army reached the Himalayan Mountains, the leaders came to Alexander with a concern: They had literally gone beyond the boundaries of their map. 

They would need to march off the map.

So like Alexander and Abraham we are charting out a new territory. I’m creating a new blogsite and ministry start-up as I write this. My plan is to continue writing and being whatever help I can be to pastors. There are a couple of books in me that I plan to transfer to print over the next 24 months.

First out of the gate will be “The Velveteen Pastor: A Journey Of Becoming Real.”

The last five years have been exciting as the denominational leaders of the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada invited me to participate in the Church Revitalization Network. Travelling across the country and speaking at pastoral conferences gave me rich insight and confidence that God is renewing his Church in Canada.

It’s a happy/sad time - an ending and a new beginning. Like Caleb entering the Promised Land at age 85 (long may his tribe live) and asking for the toughest terrain to take, I’d like to apply my experience and empathy to serve leaders in the trenches on the frontlines who bring good news to Canada.

One of my life verses is “Be strong and courageous…do not be terrified, do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:6,9).

March on!

I am a recovering perfectionist who collects Coca-Cola memorabilia and drinks iced tea. My walls are adorned with our sons’ framed football jerseys, and my bookshelves, with soul food. I write to grow hope, inspire people to be real, forge an authentic faith in Jesus, and discover their life purpose.

Please follow my writing at REVwords

I Know Who Holds Tomorrow by Terrie Lynne

2015 is shaping up to be a busy and exciting year as my husband and I are planing the building of a new home. But, I have to admit with the uncertainty of our economy, the war on terror, and simply dealing with the reality that my husband and I are getting older, I've wondered if now is the time to be taking on such a large task! What if the world, as we know it, ends tomorrow !
Even when I may, at times, stew and fret over the trials and tribulation of life and the uncertainties of the world situation I can find comfort in knowing that my Heavenly Dad, who is my rock, is not in heaven biting his nails, pensively pacing back and forth, wondering what on earth is going to happen next!  He knows the beginning from the end. He is in control. He is the Creator of the universe and you can't get any bigger than that! But, even though He is all powerful and majestic, He meets us where we are at in our present day situations. I believe He shares in our joys and sorrows. He is our confidant and constant companion in uncertain times, and He promises to never leave us nor forsake us. Believing this gives my husband and I the confidence we need to continue on with our plans and hopes for the future.
We may not know what tomorrow holds but we know who holds tomorrow.

 

 

 

Clipart by Bing

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